Players Who Have Tossed Me A Ball
Lots of players have tossed me a baseball over the years. My first ball ever came on August 15, 2007 at PNC Park. The Pittsburgh Pirates were facing the visiting New York Mets and I showed up early enough for batting practice for the first time. I was in left field and a righty on the Mets sent a deep fly ball in my direction. I was only 8 so I was scared and jumped back. (Now that I think about it, if the ball had traveled another 3 feet I probably would have broke a rib.) The ball hit the very top of the wall and bounced back onto the grass. Future hall of famer and 300 game winner Tom Glavine saw what happened and handed me my first ball ever. I didn’t realize it at the time but I was doing everything right. I was a little kid decked out in Mets gear in Pittsburgh and I had thought to bring my glove.
Tom Glavine is probably one of the best players ever to toss me a ball. Here’s my top five list:
5) Brian Roberts
4) Mark McGwire
3) Tom Glavine
2) Bryce Haper
1) Dustin Pedroia
And by the way, here is a full list of the 110 players/coaches who I know have tossed me a ball:
Neil Allen, Chris Archer, Sean Barber, Aaron Bates, Jason Bay, Chad Beck, Jason Berken, Ronald Bermudez, Arnie Beyeler, Andres Blanco, Ricky Bones**, Greg Booker, Rob Brantly, Mark Brewer, Tyson Brummett, Mike Buczkowski, Joey Butler, Francisco Cervelli, Gustavo Chacin, Dan Cortes*, Bobby Cuellar, Blake Davis, Jose De La Torre, Frank De Los Santos, Jason Delaney, Matt den Decker, Rich Dubee*, Chad Efron, Jeurys Familia, Stefan Gartrell, Chris Gimenez, Tom Glavine*, Tom Gorzelanny*, Justin Greene, Jeremy Guthrie*, Bill Hall, Justin Hampson, Bryce Harper, Jim Henderson, Mike Hessman, Gorkys Hernandez*, Ty Hill*, Kyle Hudson, Jose Iglesias, Dan Johnson, Rob Johnson, Ryan Kalish, Ronald Kenyatta, Josh Kroeger, Ryan Lavarnway, Brandon League, Charles Leesman, Danny Lehmann, Fred Lewis, J.C. Linares, Adam Loewen, John Lujan, Zach Lutz, Christian Marrero, Cristhian Martinez*, Fernando Martinez, Doug Mathis, Ben May, Yunesky Maya, Darnell McDonald, Mark McGwire*, Jenry Mejia, Orlando Mercado*, Garrett Mock, Mitch Moreland*, Dave Myers, Mike Nickeas, Jon Niese, Jose Ortega, Dylan Owen, Chris Parmelee, Valentino Pascucci, Felipe Paulino, Dustin Pedroia*, Gerald Perry, Jonathon Pettibone, Josh Phegley, Jason Pridie, David Purcey, J.C. Ramirez, Wilkin Ramirez, Marty Reed, Raul Reyes, Rene Rivera, Brian Roberts, Eddie Rodriguez*, Reynaldo Rodriguez, Jeff Salazar, Omir Santos, Josh Satin, Rich Sauver, Chris Schwinden, James Skelton, Jhonaton Solano, Max St. Pierre, Tim Teufel, Tony Thomas, Patrick Trainor, Matt Tuiasosopo, Sebastian Valle, Jordany Valpespin, Josh Vitters, Pete Walker*, Zach Walters, Jose Yepez
*= tossed at MLB game
**= tossed at both MLB and MiLB game
Leave a comment with your top 5 list.
-Danny
That’s a pretty impressive list. Especially with Big Mac, Harper, and Dustin. I’m not sure who’s throw me a ball, but a few minor league guys have thrown some to me and the kids.
-Mike